The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-10
SHOTS THAT WENT WILD
A PRISONERS STRANGE ACTIONS
AT THE BARRACKS.


Telegram From Jacksonville - The
Ofense for Which He Is Wanted.
Charles V. Harris, an all-around crook
wanted in Jacksonville for robbing Mrs
Annie Laidlaw, a boarding house keeper,
was arrested here early yesterday morning
on a telegram from Sheriff H. d. Holland
and will be taken back to Florida to-day.
The police were notified by the Jack
sonville authorities on Sunday night
to look out for Harris, and
described him as 9 feet 8
inches tall, apparently about 40 years old,
well built, with -whiskers, brown
clothes and patch on his left shoe. They
were at first inclined to think there was a
mistake about the mans height, but
went ahead with the case, feeling pretty
certain that the first man they saw that
measured q feet inches would be the one
they were after.
OFFICERS AT THE DEPoTS.
Officers were detailed to watch the
Florida and north-bound trains, but
the ''six-footer' did not show up. Early
yesterday morning Policeman Spann,
who was detailed to watch the hotels,
spotted his man walking leisurely up Bryan
street, east of the market, and a moment
| later he had him under arrest. The prisoner
pretended to be surprised, and wanted to
know what he was arrested for. He told the
officer that he had done nothing criminal.
At the barracks Sergt. Killourhy, who was
on duty, decided that the man was Harris,
and told him that he would have to hold
him until he could hear from Sheriff Hol-
land.
THE PRISONER WELL ARMED.
| The prisoner was searched and in his DOC
| kets were 32-calibre six-chambered revol-
| yer, and pocket-book containing little
over 81, and a steamer ticket to Baltimore.
The revolver and pocket-book were laid on
the Sergeants desk, inside the railing, in
| front of which the prisoner was standing.
While he was being searched Harris appear
ed to be greatly excited and demanded to
know why he was arrested. The Sergeant
told him that he was wanted in Jackson
vile for larceny after trust.
II will never CO." the prisoner replied
in determined manner.
While the Sergeant was enter
ing the charge on the docket Harris
edged up to the railing and, reaching over,
picked up the revolver. AS he did SO the
officer looked up from his book. Harris
rested the weapon on the railing and said
coolly that it was not loaded. The Sergeant
went on with his writing, Officer Spann
keeping a close watch on the prisoners
|
AIMED AT HIS HEART.
After holding the revolver moment he
threw open his coat, and, raising the weapon,
pointed the muzzle at his breast and said:
II will kill myself"
Assistant Chief of Police Green, who was
in the Chiefs Office, walked up to the Ser
geant's desk and was watching the prisoner
The officers had no idea that he intended
to kill himself, but thought that he was try
ing TO slip the pistol into his vest pocket
AS he made the move to do so Officer Spann
seized his right arm and half dozen other
policemen who were standing outside rushed
in to the officers assistance
POINTED AT THE OFFICERS.
With a quick movement Harris threw out
his arm toward the Sergeant and Assistant
Chief, bringing the pistol almost in their
faces. Officer Spann jerked his arm back,
and the pistol was discharged. The bullet
whizzed across the room, and buried itself
in the wall. Harris was quickly disarmed
feigning suicide, or whether he meant to
kill the Sergeant and Assistant Chief, it
was hard to tell. The officers did not take
much stock in the suicide threat.
Sheriff Holland was at once notified of the
arrest and he arrived here last night. He
will return with Harris to Jacksonville this
morning. The Sheriff had an interview
with the prisoner at the barracks soon after
his arrival and at once identified him as the
man he came for
AN ALL-ARoUND CROOK.
Harris, he says, is regular all-around
crook. He made his appearance in Jack
sonville about three months ago and worked
his way into the graces of Mrs. Laidlaw, a
highly respectable widow lady, who, with
her daughter, keeps a boarding house on
Ocean street. He represented himself to be
| n dotaat nd lxyM T
law as drummer. He was fairly
successful and brought considerable
custom TO her house. He won the entire
confidence of his employer and was in
trusted with the collection of various bills,
and lately with the general management of
the business.
| In his position he had every opportunity
of knowing what was going on in the house
and he kept pretty well posted as to where
Mrs Laidlaw kept her money and how
much she had
ROBBED HIS EMPLOYER.
Sunday afternoon while no one was in the
parlor he slipped in and took $50 from under
book where it had been hidden by Mrs.
Laidaw's daughter Going upstairs he
rumaged her trunk until he found the re-
Volver which he knew was there and then
started out. He was missed from the house
early in the afternoon, but the robbery was
not discovered until toward night.
Sheriff Holland was notified. and, with
his deputies, was soon on the thief's track.
He was traced TO Callahan, where he took
the train the same night, but did not reach
Savannah until yesterday morning. When
the train Stacked mp at the Bolton street
crossing Harris jumped Off, and without any
attempt to disguise himself came down town
and was arrested before he had been in the
city two hours
CONFESSED THE ROBBERY.
He confessed the robbery to Sheriff Hol-
land last night, but said that he intended to
go back TO Jacksonville to-day and pay Mrs.
Laidlaw every cent of the money he
had taken The Sheriff will not wait for "A
reguisition and it is not at all likely that
Harris will refuse TO go If he does he will
lie held here for carrying concealed weapons
and attempting to shoot the officer at the
barracks
Sheriff Holland says that he does not be-
lieve that Harris ever intended to kill HIM
self. He either intended 10 intimidate tho
officers or TO shoot one of them and escape
Mr. Simon Mann, Jr., Discharged.
Mr.. Simon Mann, Jr., who was arrested
in Savannah several days ago on charge
of perjury, and who was taken to Laurens,
| $ c. on n realIsition from the Governor of